Kakamega gold: Joho tells MCAs locals wont be exploited, will only benefit

Members of the County Assembly of Kakamega have been inducted on the legal framework for the extraction of natural resources and petition processing.

The induction forum, held in the County Assembly chambers, was attended by Cabinet Secretary (CS),Mining, Blue Economy and Maritime Affairs, Ali Hassan Joho, who rallied the MCAs to be at the forefront in championing gold mining in Ikolomani.

“Honourable members, we should start thinking about how Kakamega County Government can increase its own revenue collection so that this County achieves a budget surplus to initiate development and transform the livelihoods of our people,” Joho said.

The CS added that gold mining in the Isulu-Bushiangala area will benefit Kakamega with Ksh. 6.8 billion and transform not only the community within Ikolomani but also the entire county.

He assured local artisanal miners that their businesses would not be extinguished when Shanta Gold begins operating.

“Artisanal miners are protected by law. They have the right to mine, too. The government has elaborate plans to support them by establishing aggregation and market centers,” Joho explained adding that the government will protect artisanal miners from being exploited by middlemen.

Earlier during the morning session, the Speaker, James Namatsi appreciated the induction saying it will enhance MCAs’ skills in petition management, equipping them with practical knowledge while upholding principles of fairness, procedural integrity, and public trust in institutional processes.

The Speaker underscored the importance of continuous capacity building to legislators, noting that a well-informed Assembly is better positioned to provide oversight, protect community interests, and ensure that resource extraction processes are conducted in a fair, lawful, and sustainable manner.

Permanent Secretary for Mining, Dr. Harris Kimtai, said the induction aims to engage and build capacity among the people’s representatives.

The CS was received by the Assembly Deputy Speaker, Bernard Shitiabayi.

Yesterday, the Assembly conducted a public hearing to hear a petition that sought the help of the county legislature to address several concerns on the planned modern gold mining in Ikolomani.